Wood-cutting machine



NOV. 13, 1923.

A. H. CARRIER wOoD CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 11 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E wonvboz file/-2 Carder I Nov. 13 1923. 1,474,337

A. H. CARRIER I WOOD CUTTING MACHINE FiledApril 11, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1923. 1,474,337

A. H. CARRIER WOOD CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ame/wtoz Nov. 13, 1923. 1,474,337

A. H. CARRIER WOOD CUTTING MACHINE Filed A ril 11, 1922 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A time? rsr FEQU ALBERT H. CARRIER, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONErHALF 'lJO EDWIN W. GROVE, OF ST. LOUI$, MISSOURI.

WOOD-CUTTING IEACHINE.

Application filed April 11, 1922.1 Serial No. 551,615

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. CARRIER, citizen of the ilnited States, residing at Asheville. in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in VVood-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wood cutting or veneer slicin machines, and the primary object 01" the invention is to provide a machine that will effectively out slices or veneers from round logs without requiring preliminary preparation of the logs except as to their length, and causing the logs to be free from restrictive pressure for autoinatic gravitation at predetermined intervals, or at such times relatively to the operation of the cutters as to be in proper position at all times for engagement by the said cutters without requiring manual adjustment or setting of the logs.

A .t'urther object of the invention is to provide awood slicing or veneer cutting machine having a relatively increased prod ction of cut slices or veneers by disposing opposed logs in the machine for alternate engagement by the cutting means, and whereby the cutting operation may be pur sued in connection with two logs. l

A. further object of the invention is to provide automatically operating means for holding he log in tired position during the movement of the cutting means into engagement with and through the log, to ensure the formation oi? a regularly cut slice or veneer.

A still further object ot the invention is r imp ove the structural organl 01; this class, and par L j and reduce the number parts thereof without dethe requisite strength and machines' and other objee s and advanconsists in the P slew the invention at construction and arrangement of which will he more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

the drawings:

. 1 is a side elevation of the improved or rcneer cutting machine, showing Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved machine; 7

Fig. 27 is an end'elevation' of the same, showing the feed means or runways at opposits sides broken away;

Fig. t is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the feed table or bed and oppositelydisposed sides oi the frame t0- gether with the cutting means, and showing the manner of slicing or cutting the veneers and disposing them upon a transferring means below;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan View of a portion of the knife carrier and knives;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 66, Fig. 5 1

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of one of the dog organizations for engaging one end of the log a part of the log being shown in section with the dog teeth in engagement therewith; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the dog organization shown by Fig. 7 looking toward a dit- Lt'erent side of the same. i V

The numeral 5 designates a base plate having pillars or posts 6 rising therefrom a suitable distance for the support of a bed 7 formed with a central opening 8. On this frame angular side rails or members 9are held at an elevation by end supports .10, the angular side rails having vertical members 11 which serve as brace walls for opposing logs deposited in the machine in manner and fora purpose which will be more fully hereinafter explained. Fully open spaces 12 are formed between the opposite ends'oi": the angular side rails 9, and by elevating the latter, side openings 13 arealso provided for movement and clearance f the mechaiu ism in its lateral operation. Associated with the opposite angular si rails 9 are ways or feed means 14% disposed at downwud and inward angles of lnclinatmn and which the logs to be operated upon are placed and caused to gravitate or move towards the upper edges of the vertical members 11 of the said side rails. These runways or guide means 14- may 1 1: provided with any of the of the connecting members are uprights 17' connectedby cross bars 18 at. their intermediate portions. I

A longitudinal. drive shalt 19 1s held on the base 5 at a suitable elevation in. bearings 20, this shaft extendingoutwardly beyond the ends of the said base and having on one end a drive pulley or hand wheel 21 adapted to receive power from any suitable source. This shaft 19v is arranged at one side of the longitudinal center of the machine and has thereon worms 22 held. in continual mesh With worm wheels 23 fixed on upright shafts 2a having suitable bearings 25 in the base 5, as at 26, andalso in the opposite ends 01"- thebed 7, these shafts 24 projectingthrough the bed 7 and having horizontally disposed eccentric disks 27 centrally i ed thereto and provided with eccentric wr pins 28. By this means the. eccentric {lib-ab :27 are u -iformly rotated. atthesame rate of speed, the worms and worm wheels 23 being all similar. in dimensions and pitch. On the end of the driving shaft 19 opposite that having theband pulley 21 attached thereto is a. transmitting pulley 29, by means of which upper mechanism may be actuated.

' It will be seen, therefore, that all oi the mechanisms of the machine are operated from the shalt 19 in a very simple manmar and the upper actuating mechanism. which pertainsmoreparticularly to the devices for engaging thelogs deposited inthe machine to undergo the slicing or cutting operation, will be hereinafter clearly explained.

Fixed on the upper side of the bed T and at suitable distances apart are transverse rails 30 having grooves 31. in their upper sides. These rails, as shown by Fig. extend out equal distances beyond opposite sides of the angular side rails 9. as shown by Fig. 3, and on theserails a laterally reciprocating log support 32 is mounted and provided with lower-flanges 33. freely movable in the grooves 31. The log support or frame is slatted, as at 34-, the slats extendinsr inwardly tocentral longitud nal guide rails shownparticularly by Figs. 1- and 6.; the said rails 35' being separa ed by an opening 36 between their inner sides and also having slots 37 extending the full length thereof. Mounted to-longitudinally travel in the opening: 36 between the inner edges of the guiderails areyerticalpins 38 having, grooved rollers 39 thereon toreceive the inner side edges of the rails. 35.. as clearly illustrated by (i.- the top D( tions of the said rails being stepped. as at it) to permit the upper flanged portion of the rollers 39 to fit t-hereintoand also proi'ide for a comparatively close disposition of the upper or top edges of the rails relatively to the lower. sides of a carrier 4-1 fixed. on. the pins 38 and having cutting); blades 42' secured to opposite sides thereof and projecting beyond the side edges of the carrier. The upper ends of the pins 38 'U'C reduced, as at 48, and secured in the center of the. carrier 41.1, and the lower ends of these pins are suitably threaded to r0 coive 1 its el l to-secure all oil the parts in operative sliding positions and to; permit the rollers to have sufficient play to re? duce friction but at thev same time render them eli'ective in the desired operation of the several parts. The cutters or knives l2 are mounted in angular seats. or recesses 15 ii'ormed in the upper opp Side Portions the carrier ail and removably retained in operative position by'fastenings 4&6, where by the said. blades, or knives may be de- "ached and sharpened when, found necessnryv andv then reapplied or replaced in the event oi breakage by otherv similar devices. 1. he cutting bevels of the. blades or knives extend upwardlyfrom the. lower sides oi? the same and intersect the topv sides, as at 54.7, and the upper or top sides of the said plates are flush witlrthe upper. side oi the carrier 40, the fastening devies 46 be ing countersunk. By this means ahorizontally smooth. top. surface is provided in the association oi the bladesor knives 42s and the carrier 41 for efliective operation in cutting" or slicinglogs. The opposite ends of the carrier all, as clearly shown by Fig. 5. are reduced and have suitable bearing, devices l8 secured. thereto. saidv bearing devices being similarv to cross head connections for receiving; the wrist pins 28- of the disks 27, andivhereby the motion oi, the said disks is imparted to the carrier and from the latter to the laterally reciprocating log support or frame 32. At the opposite sides of the reciprocating lOg support or Lira-me 32 and preferably at the cornersorthe latter are horizontally disposed wiping rollers 4:9 for operation of log end engaging dogs 50 shown in detail by Figs. 7 andS anddisposed in pairs opposite extremities of the machine, clearly shown by Fig". 2.

These dogs intermediately stepped, as

so as to normally draw the contact arms 54; inwardly in angular relation and throw out the inner arms 56, the latter arms carrying a plurality of inwardly projecting pins or spikes 57 which are freely movable through slots 58 formed in the depending flanges '16 of the end connecting members for the side rail 9. As the laterally reciprocating log support or frame 32 moves over and in engagement with the rails therefor, the wiping rollers l9 are alternately brought into engagement with the opposite pairs of normally inwardly drawn contact arms 5e and the inner arms 56 of these dogs are gradually moved inwardly and the pins or spikes are forced into the opposite ends of each log in line therewith just at the time that the cutting blade on that side comes into engagement with the lower portion of the log to perform its cutting operation, and by this means the log is prevented from turning. The moment that the reciprocating log support or frame 32 recedes in alternation so as to release the arms 54: from outward pressure through engage ment therewith of the wiping rollers 49. the springs 55, which are distended during this engaging operation, come into play to draw the released arms 54 inwardly into normally angular positions and throw the inner arms 56 and the pins or spikes 57 outward- 1y, or disengage the'said pins or spikes from the log ends, so that the logs will always be ready for automatic settling adjusting movements. v

The cross bars 18 fixed to the uprights 17 steady or reinforce the latter, and said uprights are continued above these cross bars in the form of extensions 17. The uprights 17 and their extensions are further reinforced by siderails or longitudinal bars 18, which may be continuous with the cross bars 18 or otherwise associated with the latter, to give this superstructure sufficient.

strength and rigidity to serve both as a supporting means and for the operation of devices which will hev presently explained. In bearings :39 mounted on the central portions of the cross bars 18 is a longitudinal power transmitting shaft 60 projecting at opposite extremities outwardly beyond the said hearings and having fixed thereon fricthe lattelnshaft to the shaft 60. During the operation of the shaft 19 the shaft 60 is continuously rotated ready to perform its function wh n ad'usted to brin either of the frictionpulleys or disks 61 and 62 into engagement with cooperating parts. The adjustment of the shaft 60 is very slight and is lateral, such adjustment being accomplished by having the base plate 65 of each bearing 59 slotted as at 66, to permit shifting of the bearing and the adjacent extremity of the shaft relatively to the connecti'ng bar 18, the latter having sufficient width, as shown by Fig. 2, to permit this operation to be practically efl'ected-. The shaft 60 is disposed in central relation and is normally parallel with opposite pinion shafts 67 and 68, each of these shafts carrying two pinions 69 located as shown by Fig. 2. The shafts 67 and 68 are'mounted in fixed bearings 70- secured on the cross bars 18, and on the one end of the shaft 67 is a friction pulley or disk 71, and on the one end of the shaft 68 is a similar friction pulley or disk 72, the pulleys or disks 71 and 72 being in reverse positions to engage the friction pulleys or disks 62 and 61. The frictionpulleys or disks 71 and 72 are of greater diameter than the friction pulleys or disks 62 and 61 with which they respectively cooperate, so as to give the shafts 67 and 68 proper timed operation when the opposite extremities of the shaft 60 are shlfted to bring these frictional components into engagement. On the shaft 67 adjacent stem 7 8 of a shifting fork 79 fulcrumed on the outer edge of the adjacent cross bar 18, as at 80, and whereby the lever may be operated to simultaneously shift the adjacent extremity of the shaft 60 and release the brakeband 74: from the brake disk 73,

and whereby, also, the friction pulley or disk 62 is brought into contact with the friction pulley or disk 71 and the shaft 67 set in operation. The same mechanism is applied to the shaft 68, the latter having a of a lever 83 similarly fulcrumed on the op-' posite cross bar 18 and also havlng an arm.

Se-connected to the shank 85 of a shifting yoke 86, and whereby the opposite extremity of the shaft 66 may be reversely shifted to bring the friction pulley or disk 61 into engagement with the friction pulley or disk, 72 and operate the shaft 68. The levers 75 and 83 are controllable or maybe moved to such a. degree and in proper direction to effect a brake either of the shafts 67 and 68 or to release the said shafts for free rotation. The pinions 69 on the-trespective edges 92.

pinion shafts 67 and 68 are continually engaged by racks 87 rigidly secured to upper longtitudinal slides 88 mounted on the extensions 1'7 of the uprights l7 and also to lower slides 89 movable on the said uprights 17 below the cross bars 18. Between the racks 87 on each side of the central shaft and outside of the shaftsti'? and 6S, vertically movable dogs'are secured to the slides or slide bars 88 and S9 and comprise stems 90 having lower laterally projecting heads 91 formed with bottom serrated The stems 90 are firmly secured to the upper and lower slides or slide bars 8-8 and 89, but are freely movable through openings 93 formed in the side rails or bars 18 extending from the cross bars 18. By this means these dogs are steadied in their movement and prevented from having the least lateral play.

The lower ends or heads 91 of the-dogs are so positioned that they will move downwardly and clear the inner surfaces of the vertical members 11 of the angular side rails 7, and the functions of these vertically moving dogs is to bear on and hold the opposing logs in the machine and operated upon by the cutting mecha nism hereinbefore described against vertical movement. t will therefore be seen that the logs operated upon by the cutting mechanism are prevented from rotating through the action of the dogs 50 and held against vertical movement by the dogs disposed thereover and just described. The friction mechanism together with the brake devices interposed between and cooperating with the shafts 60, 67 and 68 are for the purpose of raising the dogs, including the stems 90 and heads 91, positively to such elevations that successive logs may be fed into the cutting space between the vertical members 11 of the angular side rails 9 and onto the log support 32 and then be controlled as to gradual rolling movement without a sudden drop through the operations of the levers and 83 and the devices in com nection therewith for shifting the opposite extremities of the shaft 60 and also fo'rcontrolling the brake means on the shafts 67 and 68. After the dog heads 91 are in engagement with the-logs, which is the normal position of these dog heads, they will be free to gravitate automatically with the legs as the latter are reduced by successively cutting slices or veneers therefrom, and consequently, during the cutting operation these vertically moving dogs do not require any manual attention, in view of the fact that the shafts 67 and 68 at such time are free to run loose, or are not restricted by the braking means on the said shafts.

A conveying means is mounted under the bed 7 to carry away the eut'slicesor veneers,

pulley 99, as shown by 1, and on the shaft 19 is a similar band pulley 100, the pulleys 99 and 100 having-a belt 101 trained thereover for transmitting power from the shaft 19 to the one shaft 96 for causingthe belt 9a to be driven, the upper member of the said belt being comparatively close to the underside of the bed 7 so as to receive the cut slices or veneers. From the belt 94 the slices or veneers of wood are delivered to an incline 102, or may be deposited in any other manner for transportation away from the machine. The operation of the machine is ve simple. The opposite runways or log guides, which may be of any length, have a number of logs disposed and held thereon and individually fed into opposite sides of the machine between the vertical members 11 of the angular side rails 9 and rest on the reciprocating log support or' frame 32. After two logs have been disposed inthe machine as shown by Fig. 3, the dogs comprising the shanks and heads 92-arepermitted to gravitate until the serrations 92 at the lower edges of the heads 91 engage the logs and hold the latter, the weight of these dogs and the frame device carrying the same being sufiicient'to hold down the logs against any tendency to rising movements. The shaft 19 is then set in motion and through the gear connections hereinbefore explained the disks 27 are simultaneously rotated and the carrier 41-isreciprocated longitudinally and moves, for example, first towards the vertical member 11 of one angular side rail 9 and simultaneously shifts the log support or frame 32 therewith, thereby causing the one log towards which the movement of the carrier with its knivesfor I blades 42 has taken place to be firmly jammedagainst the adjacent vertical member 11 of the nearest angular side rail 9,

and at the same time the wiping rollers 49'on.tl1atside of the machine coming into engagement with the contact arms 54 will force the said arms apart against the resistance of the spring 55 connecting the same and move the inner pin or spike carrying arms 56 inwardly to cause the pins or spikes 57 to become iuibedded in the opposite ends of the log. The carrier i l-with the blades or knives 42 and'the log support or frame 32 continues to move gradually over during the cutting operation,- as shown by at. and until the one cutter or blade has com pleted the severance of the slice or veneer, the carrierwith the blades being given a draw out motion during; the movement of the carrier and its blades through the log, owing to the eccentric attachment of the ends of the carrier to the disks 27. As each slice or veneer is cut from the one log it is fed downwardly through the nearest slot 37 through the central opening 8 of the bed 7 and falls onto the belt or conveyer 94: and is taken by the latter outwardly in a transverse direction to; one ide of the machine and deposited either on the incline 102 or in some other manner, as maybe desired. After the severance of the slice or veneer from one log is completed, the eccentrics or disks 27 will be in such position as to cause a reverse or return move ment of the carrier 4:1 and its blades or kn'ves 42 toia-rds the center of the cutting space between the vertical members 11 of the angular side rails 9, and at the same time the log support or frame 32 will have a similar movement impart-ed thereto through the action. of the pins and rollers 39 working in the longitudinal opening or slot 36 in the log support or frame 32. The moment that the log support or frame 32 starts and continues to recede fromits closest position relatively to one of the angular side rails and after a slice or veneer has been severed. the contacting pressure on the arms 54 is gradually reduced and these arms are drawn together by the retraction of the springs 55 connected thereto and the inner pin or spike carrying arms 56 of the dogs and the pins or spikes 57 are withdrawn from the ends of the log that has just been cut, thereby allowing the latter log to gravitate or settle in position for a further cutting operation and at the same time the upper or top pressure dogs having the heads 91 with the lower serrated edges 92 follow the log and maintain the same engaging relation therewith. This operation is effected alternately with respect to the two logs, and after the logs have been fully cut or sliced, they will be replaced by other similar logs and the same operation ensues. It will be understood that the cut slices or veneers of wood from the opposite logs will be delivered through the opposing slots 37 and the latter are prefera ly so arranged as to encourage and permit the cut slices to pass easily therethrough, the stepped portions of the rails 35 at the top of the central slot'or longitudinal opening 36 preventing the cut slices or veneers from jamming under the carrier and failing to pass through the discharge slots 37 as desired and intended. The operation of the machine will be very expeditious, particularly in View of the double cutting action. or-whereby two logs are alternately operated upon during the travel of the carrier 41 and the knives or blades 42 from one side of the cutting space to the other. By this means there is no lost motion, or in other words, all motions of the carrier and its knives or blades are brought into play or service in performing a cutting operation. The cutting operation is greatly assisted and rendered more practical by the automatic operation of the end and top holding dogs for the logs, and also by the automatic operation which ensues without requiring manual manipulation and delays incident thereto, especially in resetting or disposing the logs in position after each cut is made. The reverse movements of the reciprocating log support or frame in consonance with the actuation and through the driveof the carrier 4:1 and its knives or blades 42 will be exceptionally advantageous in first moving each log outwardly towards its side rail member to assist in holding the log tightly against said side rail member and then sufiiciently releasing each log or with drawing all restrictive pressure therefrom after the cutting to permit free gravitation of the cut log. When it is desired to dispose a new log in the cutting space between the angular side rails 9, either one of the levers T5 or 83 is operated to shift the ends of the shaft 60 and set up a frictional operation from the latter relatively to either one of the shafts 67 and 68 to forcefully raise either of the sets of dogs comprising the shanks 90 and head 91, so as to clear the space below these dogs for placement of a log in the cutting space of the machine. It will be seen that two of the top pressure dogs are used on each side and engage each leg. This number may be increased as found desirable in accordance with the proportions of the machine. It will be understood that the machine will be equipped with mechanism usually employed for quickly starting and stopping the drive shaft- 19, or in shifting the belt that may be positioned to engage the pulley 21.

To give proper direction of rotation to the shaft 67 and elevation of the racks 87 operated by the pinions 69 thereon, an idler friction pulley or disk 103 is mounted between the friction pulley or disk 62 on the shaft 60 and the frictionpulley or disk 71 on said shaft 67. The idler friction pulley or disk 108 is carried by a suitable bearing bracket 104 secured on the end of the adjacent frame.

It will be understood that changes in the proportions and dimensions of the several mechanisms and adoption of well known mechanical accessories in machines of this type may be made as found necessary withspace and operating between and alternately cutting slices from the lower portions of the logs by draw-cut actuation.

2. A wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls defining a cutting space or receiving and holding a number of logs, transversely reciprocating means for supporting the logs, and longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism having cutting blades at opposite sides transversely movable across said space and alternately operating upon and cutting slices from the lower portions of the logs by draw-cut actuation. 1

3. A wood cutting machine 01 the class specified, having walls defining a cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs, longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism having cutting blades at opposite sides transversely movable across said space and operating between and alternately cutting slices from the lower portions of the logs by draw-cut actuation, and dog devices for engaging the ends of the logs during the time they are cut and also bearing on the top portions of the logs, the dog devices be ing operable to permit the logs to automatically settle immediately after each log has been cut.

4. A wood cutting machine of the class specified having walls defining a receiving space for longitudinal disposition of logs therein adjacent to the said walls, and longitudinally and transversely reciprocating mechanism located at the lower portions of the said walls and the logs in thespace defined by the latter, the said mechanism having cutting devices at opposite sides to alternately cut the lower portions of the logs by draw-cut actuation.

5. A wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls defining a cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs, dog devices engaging the logs for holdingthe latter against movement at intervals, and longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism operatingbetween and alternate- 1y cutting slices from the lower portions of the logs by draw-cut actuation, the logs being released between each cutting operation in relation thereto for automatic settling in a proper position for a further similar cutting operation.

6. A wood cutting machine of the class specified having walls enclosing a space for longitudinal disposition and spaced relation of the logs therein, and longitudinally and transversely reciprocating mechanism beneath the logs and including opposed side cutting blades movable between the lower portions of the logs and alternately to and through the said portions of said log by draw-cut actuation.

7. A wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls enclosing a cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs, a transversely reciprocating frame for supporting the logs and forming the bot tom for the space, and longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism associated with and operating the said frame and alternately and regularly shiftable towards and through the lower portions of the opposite logs and havin draw-cut actuation.

8. 1i wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls enclosing a cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs and located between side rails against which the outer portions of the logs have bearings, transversely reciprocating means for supporting the logs and forming a movable bottom for the cutting space, and longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism alternately operating upon the lower portions of thelogs and having draw-cut actuation in relation to; the logs.

9. A wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls enclosing a cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs, transversely reciprocating bottom means for said cutting space to serve as a support for the logs, longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism associated with and actuating the said bottom means and alternately operating upon the lower portions of the logs by draw-cut actuation, dog devices for engaging the ends of the logs at intervals and operated by the reverse'movements of the said bottom means, and gravitating dogs separably engaging the upper portions of the logs.

10. A wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls enclosing a cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs, a transversely reciprocating log supporting frame forming a movable bottom for the said cutting space, and longitudinally reciprocating cutting mechanism having devices movably engaging the center of the "frame to operate the latter, the cutting mechanism alternately operating upon the lower portions or" the opposite logs and having draw cut actuation in relation to the latter.

11. A wood cutting machine of the class specified, having walls enclosing a, cutting space for receiving and holding a number of logs, a log supporting frame mounted to have a transverse reciprocation and provided on opposite sides of the center with discharge slots for the slices or veneers out from the log, cutting mechanism having a longitudinal reciprocation between and to and through the lower portions or the logs and also having draw-cut actuation with re lation to the logs, and conveying means below the frame for receiving the cut slices or veneers and;depositing the latter at one side of the machine. 7 V

12. A wood cutting machine of the class logs downwardly as the "latter are out, the latter dogs being provided with mechanism 15 manually controllable to raise the dogs to clear the cutting space for the introduction of uncut logs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wii;- 20 nesses.

ALBERT H. CARRIER.

WVitnesses R. S. SMITH, JOSEPH D. RIVERS. 

